Co-worker Liset Cuevas places flowers down as she looks up at a photo of Mark Manlapaz before a community vigil for Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Family members, friends and co-workers gathered Thursday evening in Claremont to remember Mark Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger who was killed last week in an attack at the university.

Mark Manlapaz was a Claremont Park Ranger for three years and a sixteen year veteran of the Cal Poly Pomona Campus Security team. (Photo courtesy City of Claremont)

“Our community is completely saddened and shocked by this incident,” said Cal Poly Police Chief Dario Robinson. “And at certain times, we’re completely paralyzed by just the thought of what we’ve had to witness and what we now have to live through.”

Manlapaz, who served for 16 years on the Cal Poly Pomona Campus Security team and worked as a Claremont park ranger for three years, was remembered as a friendly, helpful and dedicated person by Claremont and Cal Poly personnel. He was honored during a vigil held at Lewis Park, 1700 Danbury Road.

“My son, I am very proud of him,” Manlapaz’s mother, Carmelina Curtis, said, after hearing story after story at the vigil of how people were positively impacted by her son.

Carmelina Curtis, left, is comforted after friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for her son Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Jayson Inong holds one of the balloons to be released in memory of his friend Mark Manlapaz as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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Family member Ken McCarthy thanks everyone in attendance for their support as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Balloons are released in memory as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Co-worker Liset Cuevas places flowers down as she looks up at a photo of Mark Manlapaz before a community vigil for Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Carmelina Curtis, right, is comforted before friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for her son Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Dr. Joseph Hough, former president, Union Theological Seminary, welcomes friends, family and co-workers to the community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Claremont City Manager Tara Schultz gives her remarks as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Cal Poly Pomona Chief of Police Dario Robinson pauses while giving his remarks to friends, family and co-workers as they attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Family member Ken McCarthy listens as friends, family and co-workers give their remarks during a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Jayson Inong, left, comforts his wife Abigail after she gave her remarks as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Balloons, to be released in memory of Mark Manlapaz, are presented to Carmelina Curtis as friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for her son Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Friends and family watch as the balloons float away during a community vigil for Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Carmelina Curtis, left, is comforted after friends, family and co-workers attend a community vigil for her son Mark Manlapaz at Lewis Park in Claremont on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger, was killed last week in an attack on campus. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

An only child, Manlapaz moved with his mother and father from the Philippines to California at age 13, according to a Cal Poly statement. He learned English by reading the dictionary.

“He worked a lot, but in one sense he was always surrounded by family because that’s how he made you feel, like you were family to him,” said Michael Biagi, director of the university’s Parking & Transportation, in the Cal Poly statement. “He drew you in with his spirit.”

Friends and coworkers spoke at the vigil of Manlapaz’s warmth, smile, friendly nature, willingness to help and love for work.

Manlapaz, 37, was attacked around 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, as he monitored traffic from his truck at a campus entrance off West Pomona Boulevard, authorities said. He was found by one of his co-workers.

Manlapaz worked at Cal Poly Pomona since 2006 and earned two degrees there: a bachelor’s in psychology in 2006 and a bachelor’s in human resource management in 2012, according to a statement from Cal Poly Pomona.

Much of his biological family lives in his native Philippines. Manlapaz passionately encouraged his circle of family and friends to further their endeavors, and he even quietly funded multiple cousins’ opportunities to attend college.

“I’m honored to say he was my best friend for 22 long years,” said Jayson Inong, who chose Manlapaz as his best man at his wedding. Manlapaz would go the extra mile to do anything for anyone, he said.

“He was a man of God, I want you to know that,” said Inong, who was introduced to the High Desert Church in Victorville by Manlapaz.